South Africa Boer War, Great War English Channel, Irish Sea, Atlantic and Aegean operations and long service group awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class T. Hodges, Royal Navy. Hodges was aboard the cruiser Pelorus on and off the coast of South Africa during the first year of the Boer War. Awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst with the armoured cruiser Leviathan in April 1911, he saw service during the Great War aboard the scout cruiser Adventure, initially patrolling the English Channel, in mid-1915 Adventure was transferred to Irish waters to serve as the flagship there. On Boxing Day in 1915 she distinguished herself by rescuing the crew of the stricken steamship Huronian. Having left Adventure in April 1918, Hodges ultimately saw service aboard the scout cruiser Skirmisher from August 1918 in the Aegean.
Group of 5: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, no clasp; (T. HODGES, E.R.A. H.M.S. PELORUS); 1914-1915 Star; (268705 T. HODGES, C.E.R.A. R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (268705 T. HODGES. E.R.A.1. R.N.); Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EVII bust; (268705 THOMAS HODGES, CH.E.R.A. 1CL, H.M.S. LEVIATHAN.)
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Thomas Hodges was born on 16th May 1872 in Dover, Kent, and having worked as a fitter and turner, then joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class (Devonport No.268705) with Vivid II from 13th April 1896, being confirmed in the rank of Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 6th April 1898. Hodges joined the cruiser Pelorus from July 1898, and was advanced to Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class whilst aboard her on 4th October 1899, before seeing service aboard her on and off the coast of South Africa during the first year of the Boer War. Some 215 Queen’s South Africa Medal’s without clasp were awarded to this ship. Hodges was posted off Pelorus in September 1900.
Promoted to Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 1st April 1903 whilst with Hermione, he was then promoted to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class on 1st April 1909 whilst with Indus, and was then awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 26th April 1911 whilst aboard the armoured cruiser Leviathan. With the outbreak of the Great War he was aboard the scout cruiser Adventure when she was assigned to patrol the English Channel. In mid-1915 Adventure was transferred to Irish waters to serve as the flagship there. On Boxing Day in 1915 she distinguished herself by rescuing the crew of the stricken steamship Huronian. In early 1918, the ship escorted convoys to Gibraltar.
Hodges was posted to Vivid II from 5th April 1918, and then joined the scout cruiser Skirmisher from 25th August 1918, and saw service in the Aegean, before returning to home waters in May 1919. Hodges was demobilised from service on 29th June 1919. Confirmed as his full entitlement
